Manchester City came close to winning the Champions League title two years ago but lost to Chelsea in the final.
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Manchester City brace themselves for a pulsating Champions League final against Inter Milan. The stage is set for what will be the final match of the season for both teams. They both could not have picked a better match to be their last game of the campaign. Man City have never won the Champions League trophy, while it has been a while since Inter have lifted this crown. Hence, both sides will be eager to get their hands on the coveted trophy.
Ahead of the match, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called for calm from his players. “We have to be patient. The most important thing in this type of game is thinking we are 0-0 and thinking we are losing,” he was quoted as saying by the club’s website in a press conference. “Italian teams are 0-0 and think they are winning. They are not winning it is 0-0. We have to be stable and get rhythm and be stable. In bad moments we need to step forward. It will happen. 1-0 down or 1-0 up so in both circumstances be stable.”
Guardiola’s tactics is one that is praised by many across the globe. His teams are known to play good attacking football, which involves retaining a lot of ball. The manager wants the players to stick with the system but he might be ready to alter it if the need arises since it is a one-off game. “The plan gives us stability and helps in certain moment sin the game to come back and have security. It’s important in the final to have a plan. But finals are one off games and if it goes bad, we can put more strikers. Or maybe we put seven central defenders, I don’t know. There are moments when it will be, guys, there no tactics here. It’s just desire we have to go,” he explained.
Manchester City came close to winning the Champions League title two years ago but lost to Chelsea in the final. Looking back at that defeat and comparing it with the current final, he said, “It’s a different game, two years later, different players. What we planned two years ago was to do a good game v Chelsea. It did not work. That’s why people say it was wrong. Tomorrow will be the same. I will have a plan. We are ready – I have the feeling the players will give absolutely everything. Go for it!”
A win on Saturday night will hand Manchester City their first Champions League trophy, while it will also complete a historic treble for them having won the Premier League and FA Cup already this season. Speaking about the pressure that comes along with it, Manchester City defender Ruben Dias said, “We love the pressure. Since a long time, the pressure has been on and we love it.” “The pressure in the right measure makes you run faster, jump higher and be more focused. In the end that’s what these games need. You have to embrace it and never forget to be yourself. Mostly we enjoy it. We know what it means to be involved and to our families and our fans but we never forget to enjoy it.”
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